A term you heard again and again around town.
Lawmakers talked about it, and asked you to vote for it.
But now that ESPLOST, or the education special purpose local option sales tax, has passed not once, but twice.
Is it really making a difference in schools and education?
It's the phrase you've heard a million times from legislators and those of us on TV.
But do folks even know what ESPLOST is?
"What is ESPLOST? I don't know. You stumped me on that one."
"Something about education?"
"Do you know what ESPLOST is? no. Do you?"
"What is ESPLOST? uh"
"I guess I voted for something that I didn't know what its for."
It stands for Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Definitely a Mouthful.
Most folks in Chatham County know it as a the penny sales tax we pay to help fund programs and build schools.
ESPLOST
1, which voters approved in 2006, has expended almost $283 million dollars on
various projects, $185 million of that on new/replacement schools.
That money opened the door for a new Gadsden Elementary.
"They can learn more today than yesterday," said
Dr Deborah Jones is Gadsden Elementary principal, and the new school's biggest fan.
"Our students are always actively engaged from the moment they walk on campus til the minute they leave," explained Dr Jones.
Its got everything, from a fully functional and technologically advanced media center. A broadcast studio for announcements in the morning and tutoring at night. Open, clean halls, and controlled entry to a safer, closed campus.
"We have leveled the playing field," said Dr Jones. "Every student in our school can now learn in an environment that is conducive to learning, able to learn in an environment where they have technology at their disposal."
"It gives them something to look forward to, gives them a little pride."
Pride is what Indira Charles-Hippolita feels every day when she comes to school.
As both a parent and a teacher, she is fully invested in the new Gadsden.
"As a parent, I'm proud because a lot of parents who live around here await the opportunity to come to this brand new school," said Indira Charles-Hyppolita.
A brand new school for Gadsden, and for Mitchell Wilson. A 5th grader, Wilson is writing his own autobiography, including a chapter about his new classroom.
"At the old school we didn't have windows," said Mitchell Wilson. "And sometimes the lights wouldn't work, so it would be dark and stuff. Now its better."
"See you are getting a little wet now. Our 4 year olds are getting that too as they walk through this type of thing," smiled Andrea Williams, Spencer Elementary Principal.
This type of thing are the makeshift hallways and portable classrooms at Spencer Elementary.
"We just have to stop what we are doing to get it done for safety, because that's our priority," said Williams.
As principal, Andrea Williams says she spends 30% of her time dealing with location issues,
"If anybody parks on the side we have to ask them to move because the buses can't turn," said Williams. "They have to back up to get in because the pace is limited."
Technology limitations
"They work so hard to plan advance lessons with technology and can't use it."
And worst of all, floods. Sidewalk cracks, puddles and small streams now surround this 50 year old campus. Its so bad - they even have sandbags on hand for big rains.
"We've had to replace carpet and also replace tile because the moisture continually causes that problem," said the Principal
That could all be a thing of the past, Spencer is on the list for the next round of replacement schools.
Part of the $202 million that's supposed to come to schools from ESPLOST 2.
"Our children deserve, our children deserve the best facilities possible," said Principal Williams. "Sure we will have everything work because we love them, they are our best and brightest children. But we want to give them the best we can."
A sentiment echoed by Dr Jones, who says a penny extra is a drop in the bucket for taxpayers, but is the foundation for a good education for our kids.
"Children do not vote," said Dr Jones. "Children at this grade level don't work. We as the adults are responsible for guiding their future. We as adults are responsible for not only telling them what's important but showing them what's important, and through our votes we are showing them what's important."
6 Chatham County schools were built using ESPLOST 1 money, and one more, the new Beach High School, is almost finished.
That all happened in five years
9 schools are on the ESPLOST 2 replacement list, including Spencer Elementary.
Just because the money is earmarked, that doesn't mean the schools on that list have to be finished by the end the ESPLOST period.
But Savannah-Chatham officials do expect to build all those schools, and potentially be asking for more money, on the ballot in 2017.
Gadsden Elementary students enjoying their new school
